Headline: Defending Champion Bill Drohen Fires 2-under Par 70 to Keep Title Hopes Alive Heading Into Match Play at the 2010 MGA Amateur Championship
For Immediate Release: July 13, 2010
South Hamilton, MA — Last year he was the champion and thus far at the 2010 Massachusetts Amateur Championship they are calling Bill Drohen (Brookmeadow CC) the comeback kid.
After firing an uncharacteristic 8-over par 80 on Monday, the 2010 winner of this event came through with a tournament-saving 2-under par 70 on Tuesday to finish with a two-day total of 6-over par 150 and most importantly earn one of 32 spots in Match Play. (story continues below).
Day 2 Quick Links
"It was the difference of about 10 shots," said Drohen, who came out firing this morning by making birdie on the 274-yard, par 4 1st hole and eagle on the 487-yard, par 5 2nd hole. "It was the Bill Drohen of old."
On Monday, the defending champion looked nothing like the player who dazzled in the finals and defeated two-time champion of this event Frank Vana, Jr. (Marlborough CC) at The Country Club. He began his round here at Myopia Hunt Club yesterday by making double bogey on three of his first four holes. He did his best to "limit the pain" down the stretch, but all signs were pointing to an early exit for the two-time Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Champion.
It did help, however, that Drohen had more time to warm up this afternoon. After taking just a few wedge shots on the driving range on Monday, Drohen realized that his starting time was earlier than he had originally thought. As a result, Drohen made sure that he arrived early today and was able to prepare as he has for so many years.
The end result was nothing short of miraculous as he battled his way back into the game and is still very much in the hunt for his second straight Massachusetts Amateur Championship title.
"I started out of the gates knowing that I had to shoot under par today," said Drohen, who now balances his golf game with a 9-month old son, a new house and his wife Deb who followed along all day. "My swing felt like two different people out there."
Brandon Parker Delivers the Round of the Day
After firing a first-round score of 4-over par 75 on Monday, Brandon Parker (Pleasant Valley CC) made sure that he would be making his second career appearance in Match Play by posting a day-low score of 3-under par 69. The rising senior at The College of William & Mary began his round on the back nine and gained confidence by making birdie on three of his first seven holes... on what is arguably the toughest stretch of holes in South Hamilton.
"The back nine is a tough one, but I played really well there," said Parker who was named to the All-Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Second-Team this past season. "Knowing that I had gotten the hard holes out of the way let me feel more relaxed heading into the front."
In total, Parker amassed six birdies and just three bogies. Perhaps just as important, however, was the 20-foot par putt he made on the 404-yard, par 4 18th hole which kept him moving in the right direction and into Match Play for the second time in three years.
"This is a really cool course for sure," said Parker. "It places a premium on accuracy and placement on the greens. It's going to be a really fun course for Match Play."
Youth is Served – Mickey Werenski Joins Older Brother Richy in Match Play
Taking on the top amateurs in the state at one of the toughest layouts in the country did not seem to faze the youngest member of the field. Mickey Werenski (The Orchards GC), who turned 16 in May, will be the youngest competitor to advance to Match Play.
Werenski fired a two-day score of 3-over par 147 and was one of 32 competitors who made the cut at this year's Championship. Included in that impressive list is someone very familiar to Mickey – his older brother Richy Werenski (The Orchards GC). The Werenskis represent the only brother duo in the field and the last to compete in Match Play together since the Drohen brothers (Bill and Andy) in 2009.
"All we have talked about is playing against each other in Match Play," said Mickey, who has followed in his older brother's footsteps by attending the Hank Haney International Golf Academy in South Carolina. "I have played a lot of Match Play with my teammates but not as individuals. It kind of makes me excited because I like Match Play."
The road to the finals is a long and arduous one as competitors must advance through four matches beginning on Wednesday and then compete in a 36-hole final on Friday. Although he is not looking much past tomorrow's matchup, Werenksi – if successful – would become the youngest player to win the Massachusetts Amateur Championship. Ted Adams currently holds that honor as he was 18 years old when he was victorious at Tedesco Country Club in 1939.
On this day, Werenski played more like a veteran as his pinpoint iron shots allowed him the opportunity to make key birdies on what is an extremely challenging and penal golf course. Werenski finished the day with four birdies — on the 2nd, 6th, 8th and 12th holes — which helped make up for his four bogies and one double bogey on the 392-yard, par 4 4th hole.
"The pin was back right and I went long right and had a tough chip and messed up a bit," explained Werenski, who noted that his longest birdie putt on the day was five feet. "I think that [the golf course] suits my game pretty well. I am a shorter hitter and more accurate, and I have good short game."
With so much at stake starting on Wednesday, Mickey can at least be happy that he has bragging rights over his brother after finishing one stroke better.
Richy, who last month was one of two low amateurs at the Massachusetts Open Championship, carded a two-day score of 4-over par 148 following identical rounds of 2-over par 74. Werenksi, who will report to Georgia Tech for his freshman season in the fall, helped his cause by carding back-to-back birdies on the 392-yard, par 4 14th and 525-yard, par 5 15th holes and then three straight pars to finish off his second round of play.
20 And Counting for Vana
Although making Match Play is nothing new for Frank Vana, Jr. — this year marks the 20th straight year that Vana has advanced to Match Play at the Massachusetts Amateur Championship — the 2010 event does represent another milestone in his storied career. For the first time in 25 appearances, Vana finished as medalist (i.e. the player who posts the low score during the stroke play portion of the event). He carded a two-day score of 2-under par 142, which was one stroke ahead of second-place finisher John Gilmartin (Indian Ridge CC).
"It's a clean slate now and it doesn't matter what you did [during stroke play]," said Vana. "It's one hole at a time. In Match Play you can have a couple of bad holes and be OK, but it is also about momentum so you want to have that momentum heading into Match Play."
The last player to win the title after finishing as medalist was John Hadges (Thorny Lea GC), who defeated Matt Parziale at The Kittansett Club in 2008. Hadges will be looking to claim his second career Massachusetts Amateur Championship title after advancing to Match Play courtesy of a two-day score of 3-over par 147.
When Local Knowledge Pays Off
His club affiliation may not say Myopia Hunt Club, but Brad Tufts (Brae Burn CC) has more knowledge of this course than most competitors in the field, Tufts, a Middlebury College graduate who currently resides in South Boston, worked at Myopia Hunt Club while growing up in Marblehead. According to longtime golf professional Bill Safrin, Tufts was a valuable employee who assisted members and spent time working with the club's junior golfers.
Having that unique course knowledge has served Tufts well this week. Following a day-one score of 3-over par 75, Tufts registered five birdies and four bogies on Tuesday en route to a score of 1-under par 71 which guaranteed him a spot in Match Play. One year ago, Tufts was defeated in the Round of 32 and is looking to better that performance in South Hamilton… on a course he knows very well.
The Cut Line
This year's cut line was 7-over par 151. After two straight years of having the cut fall at exactly 32 players, this year featured a playoff where 13 competitors vied for the final three spots available Match Play spots.
Schedule of Play
In what is considered one of the more arduous tests of golf, the Massachusetts Amateur Championship features five days of competition. Following a second day of 18-hole stroke play on Tuesday, the field will be cut to the low 32 players who will advance to the Match Play portion of the event.
In the event of a tie, a sudden-death playoff will be conducted on Tuesday evening to determine the 32 Match Play spots. Match Play – which will take place over three days with a champion being crowned on Friday following a 36-hole (or however many holes it takes) on Friday. Here is a five-day schedule.
Monday, July 12, 2010
First Round, 18 Holes Stroke Play
— Morning Tee Times Begin at 7:30 a.m.
— Afternoon Tee Times Begin at 12:00 p.m.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Second Round, 18 Holes Stroke Play
— Morning Tee Times Begin at 7:30 a.m.
— Afternoon Tee Times Begin at 12:00 p.m.
(The low 32 scorers continue on to Match Play Competition. In the event of a tie, a sudden-death playoff will be used to determine the final Match Play competitors.)
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
First Day of Match Play
— Round of 32 Matches Begin at 8:00 a.m.
(Remaining 16 move on to afternoon match)
— Round of 16 Matches (Afternoon)
(Remaining 8 move on to Thursday's matches)
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Second Day of Match Play
— Quarterfinal Matches Begin at 8:00 a.m.
(Remaining 4 move on to Semifinals)
— Semifinal Matches (Afternoon)
(Remaining 2 move on to Finals)
Friday, July 16, 2010
Third Day of Match Play
— Morning 18 Holes Begin at 8:00 a.m.
— Afternoon 18 Holes Begin 45 minutes following the conclusion of the morning round.
(In the event of a tied match, (a) the winner shall be decided immediately by a hole-by-hole playoff, and (b) the stipulated round is deemed to extend to as many holes as are required for a match to be won.)
